Our view: Alabama school has unique method of warding off intruders

Published 5:27 am, Wednesday, January 14, 2015

We initially were amused to read how some Alabama children could ward off classroom intruders. But the more we thought about it, the more we see how the method could be effective.

Students at W.F. Burns Middle School in Valley, Alabama, are being asked to bring to school canned goods that they could throw at someone attempting to enter a classroom, according to an Associated Press article.

Principal Priscella Holley said in a letter to parents that a can could stun an intruder “or even knock him out” until police arrive, according to the AP article.

Imagine a roomful of sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders tossing canned peas or corn toward an intruder. And imagine the element of surprise these students would have. A person perhaps intending to do them harm would never expect the children to take action. While this may seem like an unusual way to protect kids, the principal said it would only be used as a last resort to enable the kids to get away.

If you’re wondering about the wisdom of the can plan, Auburn University’s public safety department trained teachers in the method known as ALICE (alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evacuate), according to the AP story, and the cans would be stored in classrooms, so it’s not as if kids would be carrying the cans around in their backpacks.

We applaud the school’s administration for being proactive in trying to keep their kids safe. Most people would consider a volley of cans an unorthodox way to fight. But at least officials are doing something now and not waiting for something to happen before formulating a plan.